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Column subtraction

Subtract vertically and practice regrouping when needed.

Practice + answer key · 2 pages

Worksheet settings12 questions · 2 columns · A4
Number range

Both numbers stay in this range. The larger goes on top, and the regrouping option controls whether borrowing is needed.

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mathsprig-1
Content ID
675bf77a
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1 page
Column subtractionColumn subtraction. Practice. Calculate 468 − 225. Calculate 378 − 198. Calculate 313 − 258. Calculate 337 − 229. Calculate 209 − 128. Calculate 373 − 321. Calculate 326 − 251. Calculate 400 − 360. Calculate 219 − 152. Calculate 388 − 268. Calculate 156 − 147. Calculate 450 − 161.Name __________________________Date _______________Column subtractionSubtract the lower number from the upper number.Worked exampleCalculate 403 − 178. → 225Exchange one hundred for ten tens, then one ten for ten ones: the columns become 3 hundreds, 9 tens and13 ones.1.468− 2252.378− 1983.313− 2584.337− 2295.209− 1286.373− 3217.326− 2518.400− 3609.219− 15210.388− 26811.156− 14712.450− 161MathSprig · mathsprig.site · support@mathsprig.sitePage 1 of 1mathsprig-1 · mathsprig-v1 · 675bf77a
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Practice + answer key · 2 pages

Arithmetic

What you’ll practice

Subtract a smaller whole number from a larger one using borrowing when the chosen settings require it.

Keep matching place values in the same column. When a top digit is too small, regroup from the next place; the on-page steps also show how to work across a zero.

How this skill works

Align the ones, tens and hundreds positions before subtracting from right to left. If a top digit is too small, exchange value from a higher position.

When a zero lies between the available higher place and the needed place, regroup across that position too. The total value of the top number stays unchanged.

Worked example

Calculate 403 − 178.
  1. Exchange one hundred for ten tens, then one ten for ten ones: the columns become 3 hundreds, 9 tens and 13 ones.
  2. Ones: 13 − 8 = 5. Tens: 9 − 7 = 2. Hundreds: 3 − 1 = 2.
  3. Check: 225 + 178 = 403.

Answer: 225

Teaching notes

  • Write each exchange clearly before subtracting.
  • Check the answer by adding the difference to the subtracted number.
Practice questions
  1. Calculate 468 − 225.
  2. Calculate 378 − 198.
  3. Calculate 313 − 258.
  4. Calculate 337 − 229.
  5. Calculate 209 − 128.
  6. Calculate 373 − 321.
  7. Calculate 326 − 251.
  8. Calculate 400 − 360.
  9. Calculate 219 − 152.
  10. Calculate 388 − 268.
  11. Calculate 156 − 147.
  12. Calculate 450 − 161.
Answers and steps
  1. 243
    1. In the ones column, 8 − 5 = 3.
    2. In the tens column, 6 − 2 = 4.
    3. In the hundreds column, 4 − 2 = 2.
    4. Therefore 468 − 225 = 243.
  2. 180
    1. In the ones column, 8 − 8 = 0.
    2. Regroup from the hundreds column into the tens column: 3 becomes 2, and 7 becomes 17.
    3. In the tens column, 17 − 9 = 8.
    4. In the hundreds column, 2 − 1 = 1.
    5. Therefore 378 − 198 = 180.
  3. 55
    1. Regroup from the tens column into the ones column: 1 becomes 0, and 3 becomes 13.
    2. In the ones column, 13 − 8 = 5.
    3. Regroup from the hundreds column into the tens column: 3 becomes 2, and 0 becomes 10.
    4. In the tens column, 10 − 5 = 5.
    5. In the hundreds column, 2 − 2 = 0.
    6. Therefore 313 − 258 = 55.
  4. 108
    1. Regroup from the tens column into the ones column: 3 becomes 2, and 7 becomes 17.
    2. In the ones column, 17 − 9 = 8.
    3. In the tens column, 2 − 2 = 0.
    4. In the hundreds column, 3 − 2 = 1.
    5. Therefore 337 − 229 = 108.
  5. 81
    1. In the ones column, 9 − 8 = 1.
    2. Regroup from the hundreds column into the tens column: 2 becomes 1, and 0 becomes 10.
    3. In the tens column, 10 − 2 = 8.
    4. In the hundreds column, 1 − 1 = 0.
    5. Therefore 209 − 128 = 81.
  6. 52
    1. In the ones column, 3 − 1 = 2.
    2. In the tens column, 7 − 2 = 5.
    3. In the hundreds column, 3 − 3 = 0.
    4. Therefore 373 − 321 = 52.
  7. 75
    1. In the ones column, 6 − 1 = 5.
    2. Regroup from the hundreds column into the tens column: 3 becomes 2, and 2 becomes 12.
    3. In the tens column, 12 − 5 = 7.
    4. In the hundreds column, 2 − 2 = 0.
    5. Therefore 326 − 251 = 75.
  8. 40
    1. In the ones column, 0 − 0 = 0.
    2. Regroup from the hundreds column into the tens column: 4 becomes 3, and 0 becomes 10.
    3. In the tens column, 10 − 6 = 4.
    4. In the hundreds column, 3 − 3 = 0.
    5. Therefore 400 − 360 = 40.
  9. 67
    1. In the ones column, 9 − 2 = 7.
    2. Regroup from the hundreds column into the tens column: 2 becomes 1, and 1 becomes 11.
    3. In the tens column, 11 − 5 = 6.
    4. In the hundreds column, 1 − 1 = 0.
    5. Therefore 219 − 152 = 67.
  10. 120
    1. In the ones column, 8 − 8 = 0.
    2. In the tens column, 8 − 6 = 2.
    3. In the hundreds column, 3 − 2 = 1.
    4. Therefore 388 − 268 = 120.
  11. 9
    1. Regroup from the tens column into the ones column: 5 becomes 4, and 6 becomes 16.
    2. In the ones column, 16 − 7 = 9.
    3. In the tens column, 4 − 4 = 0.
    4. In the hundreds column, 1 − 1 = 0.
    5. Therefore 156 − 147 = 9.
  12. 289
    1. Regroup from the tens column into the ones column: 5 becomes 4, and 0 becomes 10.
    2. In the ones column, 10 − 1 = 9.
    3. Regroup from the hundreds column into the tens column: 4 becomes 3, and 4 becomes 14.
    4. In the tens column, 14 − 6 = 8.
    5. In the hundreds column, 3 − 1 = 2.
    6. Therefore 450 − 161 = 289.